The construction 408km of access roads in Nairobi’s informal settlements is 40 per cent complete.
Transport CS James Macharia on Friday said 104 km has already been covered, estimating the project could be completed by December.
The Sh5 billion project is being undertaken by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority.
The 408.4 kilometres include 70km in Mukuru; 30km in Dagoretti; 22.6km in Kawangware; 41km in Kangemi; 22.8 in Kibera; 13.6km in Korogocho and 18.2km in Mathare.
Also, 50.76km will be upgraded in Roysambu; 57.4km in Githurai; 42km in Kasarani Mwiki; and 40km in Dandora,Utawala, Mihang’o and Ruai.
Most of these areas have suffered from poor road networks, making it hard to access critical services and essentials.
Emergency and disaster response services have also been hampered by inaccessibility and encroachment on roads.
CS Macharia said the government is undertaking the project to improve accessibility and service delivery, and provide jobs to young people.
Kura director general Silas Kinoti said where adequate space is available, they will include walkways and cycle lanes.
Kura established informal settlements experienced little traffic. They only required access roads that would open up and connect the areas to the city centre.
The access roads project is divided into three components.
The roads and drainage is being done by Kura; water and sewerage is being done by Nairobi Metropolitan Service for Sh2 billion and Sh4.6 billion, respectively.
Kura sad some areas will get both cabro and bitumen roods depending on the status.
Areas that always have stagnant water will have cabro but areas with no complications will have bitumen. Githurai and Ruai will get both types of roads.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
